Tourism campaign will tout Minnesota to out of state visitors

By
KBJR News 1

February 11, 2014Updated Feb 11, 2014 at 12:35 PM CDT

Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com)

Here's a blast from what seems the distant past; Lake Vermilion without ice.Mark Ludlow of Ludlow's Resort is already looking forward to ice out so he can get back to the busy routine of running the place.

"You need to be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day when the guests want your assistance." said Ludlow.

The Explore Minnesota Tourism team wants to assist Ludlow in getting those guests.They hosted a conference Tuesday, February 5th in Duluth to unveil their 2014 tourism promotion drive, "hash tag only in Minnesota."

"It's trying to say if you are looking for those uniquely authentic vacation experiences, we have the product that you will only find in Minnesota." said John Edman of Explore Minnesota.

As the hash tag part of the slogan suggests, the campaign will use social media as well as traditional media to lure people in from places like Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City.Gene Shaw of Visit Duluth hopes many of them come for events here at the head of the lakes.

"We have Grandma's Marathon, the Fourth of July fireworks, Bayfront Blues Festival and the Duluth Air Show is back with the Blue Angels in September. That'll be a huge draw." said Gene Shaw of Visit Duluth.

Explore Minnesota's data indicates 794–million dollars comes to the Arrowhead region every year from tourism.This year's campaign will try to increase that number by letting folks in the areas targeted by advertising know that our weather's not always as cold as their misconceptions dictate.Mark Ludlow thinks it'll work and some of those people will make their way to the Cook end of Lake Vermilion.

"I have all the confidence in the world that they're embarking on a 2014 campaign that's going to be a good one. It's been good for us in the past." said Ludlow.

In Duluth, Dave Anderson, KBJR 6 and Range 11.

Explore Minnesota calculates that for every dollar they spend on promoting tourism, tourists spend 84–dollars in the state.